For sale by Congress: YOUR LANDS

Congress has only been in session for a few weeks, but some members have wasted no time coming after America’s best idea – your public lands.

On day one, the House of Representatives passed a rule change that eased procedural hurdles for handing over America’s public lands. Then we saw legislation introduced that would allow the disposal of 2 million acres of Forest Service land per state. And this week a bill was put forth that would allow 3.3 million acres of public lands to be sold to the highest bidder.

This is a total area roughly the size of Connecticut. This is 330 times the amount of public land than the state of Wisconsin recently sold off. Over three million acres of your birthright…gone.

Enough!

If we are to sustain our hunting and fishing traditions, we need more places to explore, not fewer. If we are to retain the rugged beauty of America’s backcountry, we need to conserve public lands, not sell them. If we are to pass on what outdoor writer John Madson described as “a world worth being young in," the next generation needs more places to roam, not a world of no trespassing signs.

Sportsmen and women need to unite in defense of America’s public lands and make sure that lawmakers hear loud and clear that we will not stand by while our heritage is sold for a pittance.